My mother could have given up on me when I didn’t make the decisions that everyone else thought I should, but she didn’t, and that’s when I learned that compassion, understanding, and patience would be the most important characteristics that I employed in my chosen profession. My greatest strength as a police officer is my ability to relate to anyone, no matter their background.

Her mother, Helen Lanier, worked as a legal secretary and helped rear her grandson. Chief Lanier divorced her son’s father, completed her GED at age 16, went on welfare, and got odd jobs to fund her education. She took advantage of the police department’s tuition reimbursement program to get a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins. She’s had leadership training at Harvard, a master’s from the Naval Postgraduate School, and is a graduate of the FBI Academy.

She knows what it’s like to walk the pavement. She hears crime stats all day long, but what she really wants to know is, “How’s it going on your beat?” She’s very approachable. But if you go to her with a problem, you’d better have a solution, too. She’ll give you resources if you have an answer she thinks will work, but having no solution is unacceptable to her.

Back then, the culture dictated that it was okay to make explicit sexual comments and have inappropriate contact with female officers. I brought a lawsuit with the goal of changing that culture and hopefully helping others going through the same thing.

It’s exceedingly tough for a woman in a predominately male profession to prevail in cases of sexual harassment. Chief Lanier, however, was prudent. Most predators have more than one prey. When they stick together, it is more difficult to sweep their claims under the carpet.

What an inspiring & encouraging story, especially given the many hurdles she had to overcome. I wish her well. What really makes me sick though, is all the sexual harassment she had to face before she rose in the ranks of her profession. This is so commonplace in ALL male oriented fields – like the military for instance. I don’t know what’s wrong with these males that they think it’s OKAY to treat another human being like that. It really makes one wonder what’s wrong with their thinking (their sanity), and the extend of this problem as it exists today. I know the patriarchal foundation of this society plays a huge role. To think we have people like Chief Lanier’s former supervising lieutenant making important decisions in our country makes me cringe; the only real punishment meted to him was he was moved to a different district – yeah, I’m sure that taught him a thing or two. Yeesh. Stop taking out your anger at your tiny brains & even tinier penises by mistreating women, you bloody morons. I’m glad Chief Lanier’s there to put those pea brained types in their place. 🙂

Cathy L. Lanier is GOD!!! Every thing she does is Perfect!!! The system; the Police Union; the officers index her glorious command; the law; the city council; and the government are all inferior to Cathy Lanier. She should be worshiped and all officers she fires ( and their families) should be happy that such a perfect being has ruined their lives. Glory to Cathy Lanier!!! Cathy Lanier for president of the United States!!! All religions should stop worshiping their fake gods and pray to the glory of the true God; Cathy Lanier!!!!!!!!!!!

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